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National Treasure
In Washington, D.C., you can see what might be the safest, strongest picture frames in the world. Each of these frames is made of a strong metal and thick glass. At night, they get moved to a vault in a secret location at the National Archives.
Why all this protection? These cases hold one of America’s greatest treasures: the U.S. Constitution. The four-page document set up our national government.
A New Plan
The United States officially gained independence from Great Britain in 1783. America’s leaders realized that their new country needed a strong government. In May 1787, representatives from the states gathered to write the Constitution. The final version was written on parchment, which is made from animal skin. George Washington and Alexander Hamilton were among the 39 representatives who signed it on September 17. That date is known as Constitution Day.
More than 1 million people view the Constitution at the National Archives each year.
For the People
National Archive
Today the Constitution is very fragile. Too much light can make the ink on the famous document fade. Contact with the air can damage the parchment. So can even small changes in humidity.
The high-tech cases protect the Constitution from these dangers. The cases also keep it safe from fires, floods, and being stolen. The full details about how the document is protected are kept top secret!
Jessie Kratz works at the National Archives. She says the safety measures ensure that the public will be able to see the important piece of history for years to come.
“It is one of our most treasured documents,” Kratz explains. “We want to keep it as safe as possible."
